SMiShing: Scammers now using text messages to get private information

Scammers are now using text messages to get your private information. (KCTV5)

KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -

Scammers are now using text messages to get your private information.

It's called SMiShing. Hackers use text messages to trick you into handing over personal information.

The text messages tell you that you've won a prize or offer a link that looks like it's from a friend telling you to check something out. Or, it might be a text from someone pretending to be your bank.

We used to only see these scam attempts in email.

"Mail host providers such as Yahoo and Google have become smarter as far as blocking spam messages out, and cyber criminals are aware of this. So what they're doing is using smartphones to lure victims into fishy website and into identity theft and stolen money," technology expert Burton Kelso said.

The stepmother of a missing Wichita boy has been booked into the Sedgwick County Jail, our CBS affiliate KWCH is reporting. Lucas Hernandez, 5, has been missing since last Saturday. Emily Glass, 26, was booked into prison shortly before 3:30 p.m. Police say the child endangerment charges are related to new information in the case. The search for Hernandez remains on-going, according to police. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Emergen...More >

The stepmother of a missing Wichita boy has been booked into the Sedgwick County Jail, our CBS affiliate KWCH is reporting. Lucas Hernandez, 5, has been missing since last Saturday. Emily Glass, 26, was booked into prison shortly before 3:30 p.m. Police say the child endangerment charges are related to new information in the case. The search for Hernandez remains on-going, according to police. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Emergen...More >

The government in the state of Kansas will be closed at midnight through late Thursday afternoon due to a winter storm forecast. Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer ordered all of the state's agencies to close beginning at midnight until 5 p.m. on Thursday. Additional closings. Copyright 2018 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved.

The government in the state of Kansas will be closed at midnight through late Thursday afternoon due to a winter storm forecast. Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer ordered all of the state's agencies to close beginning at midnight until 5 p.m. on Thursday. Additional closings. Copyright 2018 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved.